Baylor releases Exome and WGS data of 7 cancer patients with Open Access

An open access pilot freely sharing cancer genomic data from participants in Texas

• Scientific Data 3, Article number: 160010 (2016) 
• ​doi:10.1038/sdata.2016.10
•  In a pilot Open Access (OA) project from the CPRIT-funded Texas Cancer Research Biobank, many Texas cancer patients were willing to openly share genomic data from tumor and normal matched pair specimens. For the first time, genetic data from 7 human cancer cases with matched normal are freely available without requirement for data use agreements nor any major restriction except that end users cannot attempt to re-identify the participants (http://txcrb.org/open.html).

There's whole exome seq data and 2 whole genome sequencing data where the sample quality is good enough for WGS.

A copy of the open-access TCRB data, conditions of use, and the HGSC’s Mercury informatics pipeline is available now for DNAnexus Platform users.

The full paper is here http://www.nature.com/articles/sdata201610

A copy of the data is also available for DNAnexus Platform users here https://dnanexus.github.io/tcrb-data/

FDA wants your opinion on the Return of Genetic Test Results

Here's your chance to chime in possibly make a change or create standards on how genetic test results are returned. 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the following public workshop titled “Patient and Medical Professional Perspectives on the Return of Genetic Test Results.” The purpose of this workshop is to understand patient and provider perspectives on receiving genetic test results. The topic(s) to be discussed will focus on better defining the specific information patients and providers prefer to receive, how those results should be returned, and what information is needed to understand the results so that they may effectively aid in medical decision making.

Registrations is closed but 
You have two other ways to participate:

1. Watch Webcast. The meeting will also be Webcast. Comments can be sent in the mail addressed to Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), FDA, 5630 Fishers Lane, and Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
2. Submit comments online. Comments can also be submitted online by March 31st. All submissions, whether done through the mail or online must include reference to: “Docket No.  FDA-2015-N-4809 for `Patient and Medical Professional Perspectives on the Return of Genetic Test Results; Public Workshop; Request for Comments.’”

URLs
http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/NewsEvents/WorkshopsConferences/ucm478841.htm
http://blog.23andme.com/news/the-fda-wants-to-hear-your-opinion/

Amplication Free sequencing. Nanostring @ AGBT16

As mentioned by Keith, sequencing by hybridisation isn't a novel idea in fact i thought that was the technology that might speed up sequencing by orders of magnitude of n where n is the length of your oligos.
However, what's interesting about nanostring is that their tech uses no enzymes in the sequencing process.
It's still in early stages of development, shall keep my eyes peeled on them. Maybe they might grow big enough for a sequencing company to consider suing them as well.

Hope over to Omics! for a more extensive write-up

Freelancing in Bioinformatics? It's happening here...uBiome FASTQ

http://www.guru.com/jobs/ubiome-raw-data-fastq-files-analysis/1210516#proposalModal

Any takers to help walk this guy through analysing ubiome raw fastq files?

p.s. I wasn't aware that ubiome gives out fastq files?

Kaggle Genentech Cervical Cancer Screening Competition

Genentech Cervical Cancer Screening $100,000

Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in women worldwide. In this competition, Genentech is asking you to join their mission to help prevent cervical cancer. Given a dataset of de-identified health records, your challenge is to predict which women will not be screened for cervical cancer on the recommended schedule. Identifying at-risk populations will make education and intervention more effective, ideally ultimately reducing the number of women who die from this disease. This competition is only open to Kaggle Masters. For more details Visit https://www.kaggle.com/c/cervical-cancer-screening

JDs: Google Life Sciences (Verily) is looking for a Genomics Scientist

Genomics Scientist, Life Sciences

Mountain View, CA, USA

Hardware Engineering

·

Full-time

Know someone who would be interested?

https://www.google.com/about/careers/search?src=Online/Google+Website/Life+Sciences#!t=jo&jid=147445001&

Preferred qualifications

• 2 years of post-graduate experience.
• Extensive lentiviral gene delivery and cell culture experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in both experimental and computational analysis.
• Fluency in standard bioinformatics tools, Python, Perl, and R.
• Excellent creativity, decision making, and troubleshooting skills.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills along with strong written and oral communication skills, as demonstrated through publications and presentations.

Author comments: Gosh ... expertise in BOTH experimental and computational analysis ... 

Verily, I swear ... Google Life Sciences has a new name

V is no longer for Vendetta, under Alphabet, the new Google holding company, V is for Verily. Google Life Sciences division is now known as Verily. 

The front page is a splash of pulsating magenta and purple with the words 

"How can we use technology to create a true picture of human health?"

Reportedly in Stat News, CEO Andy Conrad said:"Only through the truth are we going to defeat Mother Nature"

Hmmm lofty aims indeed, not sure why you can't work WITH Mother Nature because I am pretty sure she wins all the time. 

Abandoned Shopping Mall Taken Over By Fish In Bangkok Image credits: Jesse Rockwell

Technology to create a picture of biodiversity health or just to visualise movement and trends is equally engaging! Check out iPhylo's map 

Related Links

http://www.itnews.com/article/3012593/googles-life-sciences-division-is-now-called-verily.html

http://www.betaboston.com/news/jp/alphabets-life-sciences-business-has-a-new-name-verily/

http://wap.engadget.com/2015/12/08/google-life-sciences-verily-spinoff/